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New Nintendo eShop releases: Captain Toad - The First Adventure
This is your Captain speaking. There are other eShop games this week, like Virtual Console cats Lode Runner and Fire Emblem on Wii U, and Ultimate NES Remix on 3DS. For your own safety, I think it's high time you buckled up and got my game, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. I'm behind the wheel and that means you can be sure of a smooth landing, ohhhh yeahhh. Before I clear you for take off, just a few last things. For extra comfort, check out the full list of eShop releases below the break and the full list of discounted games here. Finally, if you'd like to see our in-flight range of scarves, be sure to request the new Wii U demo of Sonic Boom. This is your Captain and resident fun guy signing off, ready for adventure.
Lode Runner creator Douglas E. Smith passes away
Douglas E. Smith, creator of 1983 puzzler Lode Runner, has passed away. Tozai Games, the current holder of the Lode Runner license, tweeted its condolences yesterday and asked for fans to reflect on their personal highlights with Smith's iconic classic. According to Tozai's timeline for the series, Smith's development of Lode Runner began during his time at the University of Washington, where he created a prototype called "Kong." The interest and support of his peers pushed Smith to work full time and submit a finished version called "Miner" to publishers, with Broderbund distributing it as Lode Runner for the Apple 2, Atari 8-bit, MSX and Commodore 64 in 1983. Lode Runner's legacy of ports and successors includes a 2012 release of Lode Runner Classic, which added features to the original version that Broderbund Software distributed. [Image: TozaiGames]
Lode Runner XBLA price drops, new DLC available
For a new "Sales & Specials" spot on the XBLA dashboard, Microsoft has dug up Tozai Games' 2009 XBLA version of Lode Runner, whose price has just been permanently cut from 1,200 Microsoft Points to 800 ($10). That does sound like a sale and/or special. Coinciding with the price drop and featured position, Tozai Games is launching two new DLC packs for the cheapened puzzler. The 160-point "Skill Pack" is available now, according to Tozai, and contains 50 new puzzles (15 of which are co-op) and eight "Hang On" levels. On April 13, Tozai will release the Journey Pack, with eight stages of both the Journey mode and Co-op Journey. That's -- we're so sorry -- a lode of new content.%Gallery-118661%
Ilomilo adorably (and exclusively) heading to XBLA
Southend Interactive, developer of Lode Runner and R-Type on Xbox Live Arcade, recently announced plans to bring adorable puzzler Ilomilo to Microsoft's digital platform as an "exclusive." The game stars Ilo and Milo, two miniaturized Teletubby-looking creatures exploring "surrealistic and ever changing" environments, forever questing to be reunited. The game's first trailer (seen above) has the pair traversing worlds that evoke Echochrome, only with, well, gobs more color (not to mention tons more charm). No release window is given for the title, but when it does eventually come out, friends can join up online to control one character each and take on the game's four worlds cooperatively. Apparently Ilomilo will also feature "famous cameos from other games" hidden within each level, though given Southend's past titles (based on other companies' IP), we can't possibly imagine what that could mean. Will we find an Arrowhead space ship somewhere in the game? The future is unknown, folks. For now, get your "DAWWWWWW"s ready and check out the smattering of Ilomilo media above and below. %Gallery-92112%[Via Eurogamer]
European Nintendo downloads: Ironclad, Nectaris
Okay, so it isn't Rondo of Blood this week in Europe. Nintendo instead chose to inaugurate the latest Hanabi Festival with the pre-rendered Neo Geo shooter Ironclad and Lode Runner for NES. It's pretty novel in and of itself to have two Virtual Console games in a single week, not to mention a Neo Geo game! They're joined on Wii by the WiiWare version of Military Madness. Lode Runner (NES, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points) Ironclad (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Nectaris: Military Madness (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Elemental Masters (DSiWare, 1-2 players, 800 DSi Points) Pop Island (DSiWare, 1-8 players, 500 DSi Points) Simply Sudoku (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) Simply Mahjong (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) 4 Travellers Play Spanish (DSiWare, 1-4 players, 800 DSi Points)
Hanabi Festival returns to Europe with Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Nintendo of Europe is bringing back the Hanabi Festival, its occasional celebration of import games, starting March 12 -- and it's bringing what might be the most anticipated import Virtual Console game ever (by us). Castlevania: Rondo of Blood is among the small lineup of games to be released in Europe as part of the Festival, along with Milon's Secret Castle and Lode Runner, both for NES, and Ironclad for Neo Geo. We aren't entirely certain from the wording, but the announcement mentions Castlevania, and then says that the other games will "continue in the following weeks." So it's pretty likely you're going to be able to buy Rondo of Blood tomorrow. Happy Hanabi Festival!
This Wednesday: Bubble Bobble Neo, Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge arrive on XBLA
Well, folks, it's not quite the Summer of Arcade anymore. Microsoft's Major Nelson has announced C&C Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge and Bubble Bobble Neo as this week's Xbox Live Arcade releases. Despite the inclusion of "C&C Red Alert 3" right there in the title, the former game is a standalone experience and can be played without the original Red Alert 3 game disc. Each title will draw 800 ($10) from your account, assuming it doesn't go toward this week's Xbox Live deal, Lode Runner. %Gallery-68517%
Reminder: Xbox Live 'Deal of the Week' is Lode Runner for $10
For a brief time on the morning of April 22, 2009, Lode Runner cost 800 ($10) on the Xbox Marketplace before reverting to a 1200 ($15) price. This week, you can relive that fateful morning and nab the game at its initially incorrect -- but oh so right -- price as the Xbox 360 "deal of the week."The Xbox 360 deals for the month of September were announced last week, so be sure to take a look at what savings the future holds.%Gallery-12915%
Xbox 360's 'Deal of the Week,' Games on Demand, Avatar DLC for Sept.
Tossing the usual drip-fed weekly schedule aside for the moment, Microsoft has released the full details for its "Deal of the Week," Games on Demand and Avatar DLC releases (in the US) for the entire month of September. Let's start with Games on Demand: Games on Demand (no prices noted) Sept 8: Civilization Revolution Sept. 15: FIFA Street 3 Sept. 22: Shaun White Snowboarding Sept. 29: Fable II: Game Episodes -- (we'd hold out for that "game of the year" edition) Check after the break for the "Deal of the Week" and Avatar DLC details.
PAX 2009: Lode Runner dropping to 800 points on September 14
The new version of Lode Runner for XBLA was launched earlier this year in April at a price point of 800 points ($10). Microsoft quickly flip-flopped and said the game was incorrectly priced, subsequently correcting the price to 1200 points ($15), which caused a massive amount of complaining ... but no price reduction reverse. (Or what they call a "flop-flip"). It only took Microsoft four months, but the company is now flopping back to the 800 points price for one week. Starting September 14 through September 20, you can download the game for the price it originally debuted at, and what developer Tozai considers the "sweet spot." It has 272 levels, a map editor, and a robust community component waiting on people to run around in search of gold at a reduced price.%Gallery-12908%
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Lode Runner
This week, the highly anticipated Lode Runner finally blasts its way onto Xbox Live Arcade. Your regular host isn't available, sadly, so you folks will have to make due with me. Tune into the latest XBLA in Brief and see if the gold-hoarding antics of Lode Runner deserve a spot on your crowded hard drive.Download the trial version of Lode Runner[iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.[Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly (Zune Marketplace link coming soon).[RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[MP4] Download the MP4 directly.
Lode Runner reloaded to 1200 MS Points [update]
We don't know if this is some new marketing tactic by Microsoft, but Lode Runner is now 800 ($10) on the Xbox Marketplace, instead of the previously announced 1200 ($15) -- oddly enough, it's still $15 for a code from Amazon. We're not ones to poo-poo providence, so we'll take the 33 percent discount and like it.Well, actually, we did poke the sleeping lion to find out about the surprise "discount." Hopefully, doing so won't spur a price hike. If it does -- yeah, totally our bad.Update: Lode Runner is now priced at 1200 ($15). See what happens when you demand we be thorough, follow-up reporters? But, in all seriousness, here's what Major Nelson had to say about the seesawing release: "This was incorrectly priced at 800 points. That has since been corrected." But is it correct?[Add Lode Runner to download queue]
This Wednesday: Lode Runner digs XBLA
There are two ways to arrive at the fact that Lode Runner will release on Xbox Live Arcade this week. The first way -- and definitely the most fun way -- is by a process of elimination. You see, of the seven titles announced for the Days of Arcade event, Lode Runner is the only one that hasn't been released yet. See, logic is fun!If you'd rather be boring and have someone just tell you, the game was also confirmed on the latest Major Nelson podcast during an interview with the game's producer and designer, Brett Ballow. The game will include online and offline multiplayer and also a level editor(!). Now that we've gotten everyone nice and excited, the price: 1200 ($15).
Days of Arcade promotion coming to XBLA March 18; Lode Runner, six other titles coming soon
Xbox Live figurehead Major Nelson recently updated his blog with the titillating announcement of a six-week long promotion titled the "Days of Arcade." Similar to last year's "Summer of Arcade" event, the promotion will kick off March 18 with the release of Hasbro Family Game Night, with the following five weeks bringing a number of highly anticipated titles to the Marketplace, including The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, Flock, Outrun Online Arcade, Puzzle Quest: Galactrix, UNO Rush and Tozai Games' remake of Lode Runner. Aside from Game Night, we won't know which games are coming which weeks until Major Nelson announces them on the Mondays preceeding their Wednesday releases. However, as the keen-eyed mathmaticians among you have already noticed, with seven titles dropping in six weeks, one XBLA Wednesday will bring us a double dose of downloadable distractions. We've already canceled our Spring Break excursion to Cabo San Lucas in a fit of breathless anticipation.
GC 2008: Lode Runner XBLA remake 'coming soon'
Developer Tozai has been noticeably silent with regards to its upcoming take on Brøderbund's early computer platformer Lode Runner, and while our army of robots have once more returned empty handed, the media sleuths at IGN report that a seemingly "largely done" build of the XBLA remake was on hand at the Leipzig's media extravaganza.The news leaves us wondering just when we'll be able to revisit our platforming roots, though the game's presence on the show floor was reportedly adorned with rather ambiguous signage that simply read "coming soon." We certainly hope so, because with both this and some sort of R-Type title in the works, Tozai has become adept at tugging at nostalgia's heartstrings.
German Ratings Board reveals a slew of XBLA titles
Having revealed games before, the German games rating board the USK is at it again, exposing previously unknown XBLA games. Shown over at xblah.net there are a myriad of titles across several genres, but the most stand out title would have to be a virtual version of the classic board-game Ticket To Ride in which players compete to build railroads across the countryside. From the sound of things it'll be similar to the conversion from the board game version of The Settlers of Catan and the XBLA version, Catan. The other titles rated by the USK include the Penny Arcade XBLA game, the puzzler RooGoo, and a golf game entitled Golf: Tee it Up! Not only that, but there were also a few more games revealed by the American ratings board, the ESRB. Those two games were the ancient computer game Lode Runner, and the card game simulator Gin Rummy. None of these titles are official of course, but as with all games revealed in this fashion we must remember that rating's boards are not in the business of making of games, nor is having a game rated at all cheap. This is great news though, and should portend the approaching release of said titles. With such an ever expanding library of titles it seems XBLA is really coming into it's own, catering to a variety of demographics and hopefully with something for everyone.
Strap on your tennies, Lode Runner is XBLA bound
Confirming months and months of rumors, today Microsoft officially confirmed and showcased their latest Xbox Live Arcade gem and it's none other than ... Lode Runner. Like we said, it has been speculated for a while and now it's really real.Our peeps over at Joystiq received the scoop and some hands on time with a "very early build" of Lode Runner this morning and, according to them, the re-worked 3D art is already looking good and the gameplay is tried and true. Just take a look at the screenshots in the gallery below and try to tell us it doesn't look fun. Developer Tozai also revealed that they'll be adding some new goodness to the game including multiplayer modes like the four player Hang On and two player mode Journey. Lode Runner on the XBLA still has plenty of development to go through as no release date or pricing details have been announced, but Joystiq was told that a 2008 release was likely. Also, we should mention that our curiosity mirrors Joystiq's as we can't help but wonder if the traditional level editor will be included in the XBLA version. Because we all know level editors are teh hawtness lately, especially Lode Runner editors.%Gallery-12915%
CES 2008: Lode Runner coming to XBLA
In an early morning meeting with Microsoft, we got a sneak peek of a title that's been a long-time coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Some of you may remember our nearly year-and-a-half old interview with former Xbox Live Arcade Portfolio Manager Ross Erickson, who professed Lode Runner to be his "favorite game of all time" and, it seemed like a natural conclusion that he would be working on bringing that title to the service. Though Erickson's moved on, the proto-platformer is finally making its way to XBLA.Totally updated for XBLA by developer Tozai (purportedly the original developer and license holder), the version showed off was apparently "incredibly early." Nevertheless, the 3D graphics were sharp and the original Lode Runner gameplay is so immediately infectious it bleeds through every layer of paint thrown on it. But it's not all original gameplay, as the developer is adding in several multiplayer modes like "Hang-On," which supports four players, and "Journey," which supports two.One of our favorite touches was the history timeline of the game, which aims to educate gamers on Lode Runner's long history and role in the history of video games. A very classy touch, and one we'd love to see more of in our games, along with the original game variant while they're at it. Understandably, there's no word on price or release, but we were told "2008" was a good estimate.But that's still not the biggest question we've got. No, what we really want to know is whether or not the XBLA version will share the series' iconic level editor functionality. The answer was that while nothing has been announced, the developer is obviously aware of the game's history. Is it too much to hope that we'd be allowed to share user-created levels, perhaps enjoying a LittleBigPlanet-esque community angle? We hope not.%Gallery-12908%
Rumor: Mystery XBLA game is Lode Runner
Our man, Godfree, over at Gamertag Radio sent us another tip about our would be mystery XBLA game. Shake the magic 8 ball with us ... "signs point to Lode Runner." Check out this detective work on IloveXBLA.com: "No joke, I'm fairly certain I figured it out. Let's look at the trail of tips. Ross Erickson says that Lode Runner in very good hands, which would dictate hands that want to put it on Xbox Live Arcade (since he wants the game). Luke Smith thinks it might be Bomberman On this GamerScore blog post they dropped a hint that Peter Moore said "what happens in Shinjuku stays in Shinjuku." Later on this GamerTag Radio thread Microsoft's John Porcaro dropped a hint that "what happens in Montana stays in Montana". Ok, so with the current hints down how did I make the connection. Here's my timeline. I originally thought the game must be Bomberman, so I was looking for links between Shinjuku, Montana and Hudson Entertainment the creators of Bomberman. Score! Hudson Soft moved to Shinjuku in 1985 shortly before releasing Bomberman. While on the page I noticed Hudson Software also released Lode Runner for NES, and remembered they are currently doing a DS version. Lode Runner was originally published by Broderbund, who operate out of MONTANA. According to Game Dev Map there are no current game developers operating in Montana. I don't think it can get any clearer than that. Case closed in my opinion, next week's release is Lode Runner!" Nice work. We couldn't agree more. Lode Runner is definitely a major franchise worthy of the hype that we've generated seen in the last week. What do you think? Did these guys nail it, or is it something else? [Thanks, Godfree]
That should be on XBLA: Solomon's Key
Last week it was action puzzler, Lode Runner. This week it's Tecmo's Solomon's Key (submitted by ctrl-alt-del). Solomon's Key, like many arcade puzzlers of its time, has a simple formula. It's easy to pick up and play -- you should be able to get through the first few levels easily -- but it get's much harder as you progress. Equal parts strategy and reflex, Solomon's Key is yet another example of a great game for Xbox Live Arcade (and the ladies love it). Read on to discover its block destroying devilry.
